Infamous or Strange Masons

by Nelson King

This time, we have something just a little bit different in the way of
Masonic Education. I know, some of you loathe those two words. As soon
as you hear them, I can see the hair on the backs of your necks stand
up, and I can hear you saying, "Oh, no! Not this again! I hope he
keeps it short. My goodness, who wants to hear the same old stuff, time
after time." Well, good news, Brethren! It's not the same old stuff.
It's new old stuff. For I have always believed that Masonic Education
does not have to be dull, or boring. Why even some of it can be amusing
or even down right funny, and to prove it, to night we're going to talk
about Strange or Infamous men who were, or may have been, Masons. We
begin with a Frenchman.

The Chevalier Charles D'Eon of France was born on
October 5 1728, and was given the name Charles Genevieve Louise Auguste
Andre Timothee D'Eon de Beaumount. He was obviously born of a noble
family. He became a Freemason in 1766 in the Lodge of Immortality, No.
376, which met at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, London,
England. He served as Junior Warden in 1769 and 1770. He had many
talents; he was an expert fencer and soldier, and an able diplomat who
successfully negotiated the Treaty of 1763, ending the Seven Years War
in which Austria, France, Sweden and Saxony where united against
Frederick the Great of Prussia [who was joined by England]. So what,
you say? Nothing strange about him so far. Well, let's look a bit
further. He unfortunately had an effeminate appearance, and
occasionally masqueraded as a woman. His enemies in France accused him
of being a woman masquerading as a man. Masons wondered whether a woman
had been initiated into the Craft. The controversy about his sex caused
considerable gambling, and speculation got out of hand. Finally an
insurance company filed a petition to have the matter adjudicated.
Witnesses testified that he was a woman. About this time he accepted an
offer of Louis XVI to receive a generous pension, on condition that he
return to France, and resume the garb of a woman. From this time on,
with rare exceptions, he wore women's clothes. When he died on May 21
1810, a competent physician performed an autopsy and clearly proved that
D'Eon was a man after all.

Let's now return to England and an English Reverend sir.

The Reverend William Dodd was an English Freemason, who
was born in 1729, and died in 1777. He was the first Grand Chaplain of
the Grand Lodge of England, in the year 1775. He delivered the oration
at the dedication of Freemasons' Hall in London in 1776. He was also
the author of many books and literary papers including "Beauties of
Shakespeare." Weakness of character in money matters caused him to be
tried for the crime of forgery. He had the effrontery to sign the name
of the Earl of Chesterfield, in the matter of 4200 pounds sterling. He
was convicted of forgery and executed. The affair created great public
commotion and attempts were made both by the City of London, and by
30,000 people who signed petitions to the King to commute the sentence.
But [to show how severe English Criminal law was at the time] the
sentence was carried out. It was one of the last public hanging in
England. Not a good ending for a man of God and a Mason.

Now from an Englishman to a Scottish American.

Matthew McBlain Thompson was born in Scotland, and was
a member of two Scottish Lodges and a Past Master of one of them. He
also affiliated with King Solomon Lodge, No. 22, in Montpelier, Idaho
when he settled there in 1881. He later demitted from this lodge. He
returned to Scotland, but in 1898 he came back to the United States,
where he created the "American Masonic Federation." He promoted the
sale of all sorts of "Masonic" degrees by mail, and through paid
solicitors or salesmen; they were sent out to organize lodges and grant
degrees throughout the United States. [By the way, reduced rates were
given for large groups and many joined his special Craft.] In 1915 one
of his salesmen was arrested in St. Louis, Missouri, and the postal
inspector there decided that it was time to break up the gang. He
assigned inspector M. G. Price to the case; he spent two years
gathering evidence in the United States and also far off in foreign
lands. Judge Wade of the United States District Court for Iowa, a
non-Mason, presided, and none of the jurors was a Mason. Matthew
McBlain Thompson and two others were found guilty of using the U.S.
Mails to defraud the public, and were sentenced to serve penitentiary
terms of two years and to pay a fine $5000.00 each. In those days this
was a lot of money.

Now, let us look at another American.

In 1847 An American visiting England introduced himself as a
Major General George Cooke, LL.D., Chancellor of the
University of Ripley. He joined Prince of Wales Lodge, No. 259. He
became a devoted supporter of the Masonic Charities, and actually became
vice-president of the Girls' School, and a life Governor of the Boys'
School and a member of the Benevolent Institution. The Grand Master
conferred on him the rank of Past Grand Warden, and appointed Cooke his
personal representative to the Grand Lodge of New York. A fund was
started to place his bust in Freemasons' Hall.

Yes, he certainly seems to be the type of man who would become the
ultimate Mason, generous, devoted, benevolent, humane and philanthropic,
an indisputable humanitarian. Undeniably the type of man the Craft
needs.

But after he had returned to the United States it was discovered that
Cooke was a medical quack. He was immediately stripped of all his
Masonic honours, and all the money that he had contributed to Masonic
Charities was returned to him.

Joshua Norton was born in England on February 4
1819. He engaged in a number of business enterprises in Africa, and
emigrated to San Francisco in 1849. He immediately entered the real
estate business and accumulated considerable wealth. When he tried to
corner the rice market, he lost everything. In order to cheer him up,
his friends started to call him "Emperor." On September 15 1859 he
proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States. He donned a blue
uniform with brass buttons, epaulets, and a military cap. Instead of
sending him off to have his head examined, everyone humoured him because
of his pleasant and cheerful disposition. He rode the streetcars free,
attended theaters without charge, and was supplied with the necessities
of life by those around him. When he ran short of cash, he simply drew
drafts on his Imperial Treasury. He issued Royal Proclamations that
were designed to better the human race. On Sunday he always attended a
church. He played no favourites, but visited them all. Merchants and
financiers consulted him on business matters and apparently he gave them
sound advice on these matters.

So what does this have to do with Masonry? Well he was a member of
Occidental Lodge of San Francisco, and for a time he lived in the
Masonic Temple; some of his proclamations emanated from it. When he
passed away on January 8 1880, he was given a Masonic Funeral.
Fifty-four years later his grave was moved and a monument was erected
over his new grave.

Now to a Scottish Canadian. This is one of my very favourite short but
true stories. The story of man who loved his Lodge, and who [I think]
also loved his pocketbook.

Miles McGuigan was a member of the 81st Regiment of
Loyal Lincoln Volunteers and a member of Merrickville Lodge, No. 55, in
St. Lawrence District in Ontario. When he died, it was his last wish
that his body be dissected, and then placed in the Merrickville Lodge
for future work in the Third Degree. His wishes were carried out, and
his bones remained in the Merrickville Lodge until the Lodge Room and
building were gutted by fire in 1959.

So Brethren, now let's hope that you have been amused and entertained
with these short episodes in the lives of some of our Masonic brethren.
Not your ordinary run-of-the-mill Masons, that's for sure. Not all
ideal role models! But interesting! Believe it or not, this is Masonic
Education.